Keeping the tradition alive, Liangmai villager sticks to natural farming
Source: The Sangai Express / Nando Waikhom

Imphal, September 28 2023: A rich and independent Nation is analogous to its civilization, culture and traditions besides its ood self-sufficiency.

Manipur, which has a history that spans over 2000 years in written record, is no exception to this.

The ancestors of the indigenous Manipuris have the history of practising farming methods which solely rely on the laws and principles of nature.

Thank God, this form of farming method which gains its popularity in the present days with the scientific nomenclature called "Natural Farming" is still practiced by some villagers of Kuilong Village - III in Tamei Sub-division of Tamenglong District.

Keeping the tradition alive, Liangmai villager sticks to natural farming

Tariangbou Pamai (51) is one villager among the few villagers who have been practicing Natural Farming in the said village till date.

He has been cultivating various crops, including seasonal ones like banana, cabbage, king chilly (u-morok), garlic, mustard, yongchak (stinky bean) and brinjal for years by relying only on Natural farming.

While claiming that the Liangmai community has a rich culture and traditions closely associated with agriculture, the quinquagenarian said that he still follows the aged-old Liangmai's tradition of cultivating crops.

Citing Mieusangee and Changa Ngee as the ritual festivals or traditions of the Liangmai community that have been closely associated with cultivation of crops and agriculture practice, Tariangbou continued that the younger generations need to preserve and promote these festivals.

He added that the conduct of these festivals or yearly ceremonies have significant meanings for the Liangmai people and are profound examples of the said community having rich history related to agriculture and horticulture.

Conveying that he plants various seasonal crops in his arable land measuring around a lourak, Tariangbou asserted that he never adds chemical fertilizers and pesticides while planting vegetables, fruits and other crops including rice.

The farmer who also rear pigs, goats, sheep and cows went on to maintain that he sometimes add manures in his crops cultivation while expressing skepticism that chemical fertilizers and pesticides would enhance crops yield.

When asked about the usage of hybrid seeds and heavy machinery in farming, he said that people in his village still rely on ordinary agricultural tools like spade, shovel and sickles in crop cultivation.

He also said that most villagers in his village use crop seeds preserved or collected from previous croppings.

Highlighting the kind of problems of the farmers in Kuilong, Tariangbou asserted that the same village is lacking behind other villages in terms of transportation facilities.

"Although Kuilong Village is a part of Tamenglong District, the village lies over 50 kilometers away from Tamei Sub-Division Headquarters.

And as such, the villagers take their produce in Peren District of Nagaland which is nearer as the roads and transportation system along Tamei Subdivision is relatively poorer than the roads leading to Peren '', the villager added.

Continuing that the villagers of Kuilong also go to Kanglatongbi Bazar to sell their produce by hiring private vehicles, Tariangbou maintained that the villagers can generate more profits if passenger vehicle services are available to them to transport their produce.

He then drew the attention of the State Government and Central Government to make special arrangements to provide transportation facilities in Kuilong Village.

(This article is written under the 3rd Award in the Scientific Journalism Programme of the Public Relations and Media Management Cell, CAU, Imphal.

Dr Indira Thounaojam, Information and Publicity Officer and Head, PRMM Cell, CAU Imphal can be contacted at [email protected] to know more about this article and related information) .